KC old boys donate to refurbishing of Douglas Forrest Building

Hugh Reid (centre) represents the Kingston College Class of '68 in donating $1 million to the school, through Principal Dave Myrie (right), in recognition of their 50th anniversary. Looking on during the presentation at KC's North Street campus are other members of the Class of '68.

The lessons of embracing and supporting family have not vacated the hearts of members of a Kingston College (KC) group who graduated in 1973. That is what motivated some of them to return to the institution yesterday to donate $1 million to help complete restorative work to the Douglas Forrest Building.

"This is our 50th anniversary since we started attending KC. The KC culture has taught us to be a family, with each one helping the other along the way, and I have certainly benefited from that. As a group, we have decided to contribute significantly," Ivor Nugent told The Gleaner.

"Many of us contribute individually, but collectively, we thought we should embark on this project to expand the building to include a state-of-the-art library. The library will include computers and more administrative space," Nugent said. "This building is significant because Douglas Forrest is probably the most revered principal we have had. He taught us discipline and that we had to be strong, but we didn't have to be a brute, and (adhere to) the culture of always giving back," he said.

Hugh Reid, the convener for the class of 1973, told The Gleaner that apart from looking out for the current students, the initiative also is a way to pay respect to Forrest.

"The building is being expanded to include a second floor. We have asked that the funds be earmarked to complete the building because he was the second headmaster of Kingston College, and he provided exemplary service," he said. "This building is a major (structure) on the campus, named in his honour, so we felt we should help to complete this exercise."